UNH-IOL, Ethernet Alliance gear up for PoE equipment plugfest

The University of New Hampshire InterOperability Laboratory (UNH-IOL), an independent provider of broad-based testing and standards conformance services for the networking industry, announced that it will be hosting the latest Ethernet Alliance Power over Ethernet (PoE) interoperability test event, scheduled for March 29 - 31, at the UNH-IOL’s new laboratory in Durham, NH. The multi-vendor plugfest for Ethernet Alliance members will bring together a diverse array of equipment and technologies to test PoE interoperability, as well as conformance with IEEE 802.3 specifications.

The three-day testing event will focus on demonstrating technology and equipment compliance with IEEE 802.3 PoE standards. Participating Ethernet Alliance members will be able to test their devices for interoperability and conformance, receive hands-on experience, and gain a deeper understanding of IEEE 802.3 requirements. Test plans used during the plugfest are built upon existing testing offered by the UNH-IOL in its PoE Consortium. Additionally, UNH-IOL is offering participants the added benefit of being included on an Integrators list, hosted on the UNH-IOL’s website. This list will be maintained between plugfests and may be referenced by companies showing their commitment to the IEEE PoE standards.

“As PoE continues expanding beyond its enterprise roots into emerging areas like the Internet of Things, it’s incumbent upon the industry to foster that growth by building end user confidence in these technologies and devices," says George Zimmerman, technical committee chair, Ethernet Alliance, and president and principal consultant, CME Consulting. "How we get there is through events like this one – plugfests that give our member companies the opportunity to thoroughly test their solutions against key IEEE specifications, as well as verifying their interoperability with other equipment. The Ethernet Alliance remains the industry voice of Ethernet, and we’re pleased to be leading the charge for greater interoperability in the marketplace. We look forward to a successful and productive event.”

An Ethernet Alliance press release sums up the event, "Introduced more than ten years ago, PoE technologies created immediate efficiencies and a strong case for interoperability by eliminating the need to run both Ethernet and power cabling to powered devices (PDs), such as wireless access points (WAPs), IP phones, and security cameras. The first IEEE PoE standard was adopted in 2003, followed by a second standard, referred to as PoE Plus for its increased power supply, in 2009, and commonly known to the market as IEEE 802.3af and IEEE 802.3at respectively. The Ethernet Alliance PoE plugfest represents an opportunity for members to enhance market positioning and mitigate risk."

“We’re excited about the potential for this plugfest to drive greater understanding and user confidence in IEEE 802.3-based PoE products,” concludes Jeff Lapak, associate director, UNH-IOL. “We’ve been involved in IEEE 803.2 testing since the creation of the standard and have engaged in subsequent testing through our PoE Consortium, but for companies that are now seeing the need for differentiation from ‘PoE’ in general and want to support the IEEE 802.3 PoE ‘brand’ this is the event to attend.”

Learn more about the UNH-IOL.